September 27, 2016 Fredericton, N.B. – A total of fifty-five farms throughout the province opened their doors to the public showcasing agricultural production in New Brunswick on Sunday, September 18th. While the weather may have been a hindrance for some people to go out on the day of the event, it was overall well attended by both New Brunswickers and visitors from outside the province. Visitors toured participating farms to learn and appreciate how farmers feed communities and the world. The attendance numbers mirrored that of last year’s event at approximately 10,000 despite the increase in participating farms with weather being the contributing factor. Nonetheless, the steady turnout again this year is a true reflection of the importance of local agriculture and support for the farming community. The event was organized by the Agricultural Alliance of NB and made possible with the support of the Provincial and Federal government and by Farm Credit Canada. The well promoted publicity campaign through television, newspapers, radio, social media, and word of mouth was a great success.
Open Farm Day saw a strong increase of participating farms up from forty-six the previous year, indicating a greater interest from a wider array of farmers such as the produce sector, vineyards, cheese producers, horse riding stables, apiaries, sugarbushes, and nurseries. All testimonials from the participating producers and public strongly support that the day was a success and very positive experience for all. Participating farms showed a great deal of ingenuity in making the experience educational and enjoyable for the visitors by offering a wide array of activities for both children and adults alike. Corn mazes, kite-flying, milking cows, pony rides and wagon rides were just a few of the activities being offered by various farms. The public had the opportunity to get a “back-stage” feel, ask questions, and sample some of New Brunswick’s finest local products. Many attendees of all ages came with a purpose to learn, stayed for hours, and formed new relationships with their neighbors. Many farmers commented that this year saw a strong increase in the amount of children present.
The event is of great importance for agricultural education and provides an opportunity for the public to connect with the wealth of agricultural producers to learn about the abundance of services available and where their food comes from. Comments and feedback received from visitors were extremely favorable with clear indication of how much the event is appreciated for both its social and educational value.
Open Farm Day also took place in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland on the same day.
For more information, please contact:
Agricultural Alliance 506-452-8101
↧
Open Farm Day- An event growing in popularity
↧
